the Methadone Therapy Substitution Programme, he will state the – (a) annual amount budgeted therefor since…
(No. B/314) Mr F. Quirin (Third Member for Beau Bassin & Petite Rivière) asked the Minister of Health and Wellness whether, in regard to the Methadone Therapy Substitution Programme, he will state the – (a) annual amount budgeted therefor since 2019 to date; (b) places of distribution thereof region-wise, indicating the number of patients attending each collecting point, and (c) number of patients who have successfully completed the programme, on a yearly basis, since 2019 to date.
Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that there is no specific budget allocated for Methadone Substitution Therapy Programme as expenses are being incurred under different items under the budget of my Ministry. However, the House may wish to note that the approximate amount spent for the purchase of methadone and other related course and allowances for the Methadone Substitution Therapy Programme from 2019 to 2024 are as follows – • for Financial Year 2018-2019, Rs40,585,832; • for Financial Year 2019-2020, Rs42,334,842; • for Financial Year 2020-2021, Rs57,593,713;
80 • for Financial Year 2021-2022, Rs46,389,430; • for Financial Year 2022-2023, Rs60,402,179, and • for Financial Year 2023-2024, Rs57,524,788. With regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that as at February 2025, there are a total number of 8,851 patients receiving their daily doses of methadone in 75 dispensing sites around the island. The number of patients attending the different dispensing points region-wise is being tabled. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (c) of the question, it is widely accepted that the assessment of recovery from drug addiction is inherently complex, owing to the multifaceted nature of the addiction itself. In essence, the complexity of assessing drug addiction recovery stems from the interplay of individual variability, multi-dimensional factors, measurement challenges and the dynamic nature of the recovery process itself. Hence, the exact number of patients who have successfully completed the programme cannot be determined.
Yes!
M. le président, la méthadone, comme tout le monde le sait, est un produit de substitution qui est devenu, malheureusement, un produit d’addiction pour de nombreux patients. Donc, l’honorable ministre peut-il dire à la Chambre s’il envisage d’autres types de programmes plus efficaces, et si, oui, lesquels ?
Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the days to come, we will be having a legislation on this particular issue. I will request you to be a bit patient, you will get it.
Pertaining to the question!
M. le président, donc, probablement, l’honorable ministre est au courant que dans certains pays, il y a le suboxone qui est privilégié à la méthadone, de par son potentiel d’abus plus faible et un niveau de dépendance physique aussi plus faible. Donc, s’il est au courant que ce produit existe, est-ce que ce traitement peut être considéré et peut-on savoir quand, à-peu-près, compte-t-il venir de l’avant avec ce programme alternatif ?
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Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am not a medical practitioner. As I have just said, we are having a new legislation. Please, be patient. Definitely, we will have certain changes.
Hon. Member, the new law is coming for First Reading today. Next time, the hon. Member can have an opportunity to address the House on the Bill and make any suggestion he wants. So, let’s proceed with the next question. Thank you. Hon. Members, I have been advised that the following PQs have been withdrawn: B/317, B/320, B/327, B/328, B/329, B/340, B/349, and B/350. Now, we proceed with the next question. Hon. Second Member of Savanne and Rivière Noire! MARTINIÈRE RESERVOIR, SURINAM – OPERATION – REMEDIAL MEASURES